Bharti Airtel ropes in ZTE to manage 4G network in Kolkata

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel today said it has roped in telecom equipment maker ZTE to manage its fourth generation (4G) technology based network in Kolkata, where the services are expected to be launched later this month.

Bharti Airtel has selected ZTE Corporation to plan, design, supply and deploy its 4G network in Kolkata, which will allow its subscribers to experience high-speed wireless internet access, a statement said.

No financial details were disclosed. 4G services can support bandwidth intensive applications like video streaming and high-definition video conferencing.

"According to industry estimates, by 2016, six per cent of all mobile connections will have 4G connection, which would create 36 per cent of the total mobile data traffic, thus paving way for the ensuing data revolution," Bharti Airtel CEO (India and South Asia) Sanjay Kapoor said.

The impending launch of 4G in the country will provide ultra high speed data access, driving fundamental changes in society at large, he added.

Bharti Airtel has already awarded the contract for building and operating its 4G network in Maharashtra to Nokia Siemens Networks.

Bharti Airtel had bagged broadband wireless access (BWA) licence to offer the services in four Indian telecom circles -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kolkata and Punjab.

The company had paid a total of Rs 3,314.36 crore for licence and spectrum fees during an auction held in June 2010.